About Me

I have spent the first half of my career
as a pastor of the church, and the second half as a teacher in the university and the church. I experience much satisfaction working in both worlds. As I engage in ongoing research to support my third activity which is writing, I am constantly finding many interesting items on the net and from friends which I edit and share on my Colleagues List. That way, you too might enjoy information from the worlds of religion and culture. As of September 2016, this profile has received almost 1,800 hits.
Thanks for your interest!
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Saturday, September 20, 2014

Collegues List, September 21st, 2014

Vol. X. No. 8

*****

GLOBAL AND ECUMENICAL IN SCOPECANADIAN IN PERSPECTIVE

Wayne A. Holst, EditorMy E-Mail Address:waholst@telus.netColleagues List Web Site:http://colleagueslist.blogspot.com"Quicklinks" are included with many itemsat the beginning of this issue. To get a morecomplete picture, however, scroll down tofind your special selection in the body ofthe blog.

Note that not all items here have links.*****Dear Friends:Another busy week with many of ourfall programs beginning. After an earlytaste of winter snow two weeks ago, we're once again enjoying beautiful early fall weather here in Calgary.We've had a very strong increase inColleagues List website hits followingour focus last week on Joan Chittister.She certainly is a popular lady!I must apologise for the dead link that a number of you reported from last week'smailing. If you missed that issue and Joan Chittister's new book notice, here is a new link to use:http://tinyurl.com/nf2enol

If ever that should happen again, just Google "Colleagues List" and the current issue will appear for you.--My Special Item for this week is a booknotice for another American Catholic writer: "Eager to Love - the Alternative Way of St. Francis of Assisi" by Richard Rohr.I know you will appreciate his new book.http://tinyurl.com/m9gbu7rTo read this item, please scroll down.--Colleague Contributions this week are bytwo of our regulars:Ron Rolheiser (San Antonio TX) writes:"On How We React to Criticism and Opposition"http://tinyurl.com/kjkepz6

"I Survived a Short-Term Mission Trip" -an interesting article on how one personhandled a church-sponsored mission tripto Honduras (Sightings)http://tinyurl.com/kngnh3k"'Fields of Blood' - by Karen Armstrong" -the famous writer has appeared once morewith a book that many of us wish did nothave to be written, but are grateful theauthor has taken on the unhappy historyof religion and violence (The Tablet, UK)http://tinyurl.com/jw2zmp4"Where Were the Dinosaurs in Noah's Ark?" - a secular journalist visits the creationistmuseum in Kentucky and reports on hisfindings (The Atlantic Online)http://tinyurl.com/npuhcb4"Wycliffe Translators Have Big Assignment" -the largest biblical translation organizationreports that the Bible is not yet translated,in whole or in part, into 1870 of the earth's living languages, but they are working on it (The Christian Post)http://tinyurl.com/ob32r7g"Lutheran-Mennonite Dialogue on Peace Issues" -the international bodies of both traditions continueto work together after the Lutherans apologizedfor the historical persecution of Anabaptists(Lutheran World News)http://tinyurl.com/pzwanom"Salmond to Go After Scottish 'No' Vote Victory" -the big news this week was the vote by Scotsto remain in the United Kingdom. Here area series of reports (BBC, The Atlantic Online,The Tablet UK, National Geographic)http://tinyurl.com/p5wd6jmhttp://tinyurl.com/lbhz3yjhttp://tinyurl.com/ocyv4wzhttp://tinyurl.com/kbp4jgr"England's John Oliver Spoof on Scot Referendum"- of course, there was humour, as well as muchseriousness - over this historic referendum(Youtube via Sojourners)http://tinyurl.com/krthomf-Wisdom of the Week - comes via Sojourners andBruderhof Online, and we thank them -Mahatma Gandhi, Oscar Romero, Joan Chittister,Wendell Berry, Søren Kierkegaard, Henri Nouwenand C.S. LewisPlease scroll down to read their insights.--Closing Thought - is from Madeleine L’EngleAgain, please scroll down to read her thoughts.(end)Our teaching programs are beginningand below please find a listing of theparticulars, if you are interested -Fall 2014 Adult Spiritual DevelopmentACTS Ministry Programs at St. David'sand at the University of Calgaryhttp://tinyurl.com/pvs5e3whttp://tinyurl.com/o95nho4http://tinyurl.com/kkca8rphttp://tinyurl.com/iedthttp://tinyurl.com/odxlv7q---Best wishes for your week, and pleaselet me know of any further link problems.Wayne**************

SPECIAL ITEMBook Notice -EAGER TO LOVEThe Alternative Wayof St. Francis of Assisi

by Richard Rohr, 2014Franciscan Media, 294 pp.Hardcover $24.00 CAD. Kindle $9.99 CADISBN #978-1-61636-701-5Publisher's Promo:Francis of Assisi, one of the most beloved of all saints, was at once very traditionaland entirely revolutionary in the ways of holiness. As a standing paradox, he both stood barefoot on the earth and yet touched the heavens; he was grounded in the church and yet instinctively moved toward the cosmos; he lived happily inside the visible and tangible, and yet both suffered and rejoiced in the invisible. Rohr places the tradition as first practiced by Francis, and subsequently by others, within a context for the uninitiated audience. This is not a historical accounting, but rather a perspective about how the alternative orthodoxy can deepen spiritual life for anyone, whether Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, secular, or spiritual seeker. "Eager to Love" is grounded in the Gospels, the prophets, a broad blend of psychology and theology, and in literature and art, to continue to communicate through all the sources that articulate specific alternative ways of understanding God with us.--Author's Bio:Richard Rohr is a globally recognised Catholic and Christian teacher focusing on mystical andtransformational traditions and is the founder and director of the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico, home of the Rohr Institute. He is the author of more than twenty books, including Yes, And... Daily Meditations; Immortal Diamond: The Search for Our True Self; Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life; and Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the Twelve Steps. --Author's Words:Francis of Assisi was master of making room forthe new and letting go of the tired or empty. Muchof Francis' genius was that he was ready for absolute"newness" from God and could also trust fresh andnew attitudes in himself...(The visible world provides a doorway to the invisible world.)In this book, I want to share with you one of themost attractive, appealing and accessible of allframes and doorways to the divine. It is called theFranciscan way after the man who first exemplified it - Francis, who lived in Assisi, Italy, from 1182 to1226 CE. Francis and Clare, (his female religious associate) - when overly romanticised - can be "dismissed too easily" (as Francis was not whathe has been too lightly made out to be by would-befollowers, even in our own time.)Church and world. He was totally at home in both.He and Clare were both very eager to love both, and they knew that dying to the old and unneeded was an essential part of living this love at any depth.You too can let Francis and Clare show you how todie into your one and only life, the life you mustlearn to love... (I try to help them do this in my book.)The Franciscan way is to view the Gospel not as a fire insurance policy for the next world but a life insurance policy for this world...My hope and desire in writing this book is thatyou can know heaven on your own too, and now!- from the Preface (with editorial licence)--My Thoughts:(In the June 8th issue of Colleagues List I introduced the 90 page study guide -"Embracing an Alternative Orthodoxy: Richard Rohr on the Legacy of St. Francis" http://tinyurl.com/kdld38cIn a way, the current book under consideration and the "how to" guide just noted have appeared in reverse order for whatever reason. At least now, with the appearance of both volumes, we have from Rohr a spirituality that is both theoretical and practical).--For those unfamiliar with Rohr's writing whatwe have in this book is an introduction to mysticism - one of his specialties. The mystical way of living the faith is common to all the great religious traditions and is also one of the key linkages between them.

Read what Rohr writes about this.We used to say - in Christian ecumenicalcircles - "doctrine divides, service unites"and this helped us to work together forsocial justice causes with many different Christians as well as non-believers. Now, we might say the same about the phenomenon of mysticism, it seems to me."Doctrine divides, mysticism unites," - and this helps us to find common spiritual cause with people of many faiths or no faith.What Rohr is able to share with us is really nothing new. It is almost a thousand yearsold, since the time of St. Francis. And yet,because of its nature, it can reflect a verycontemporary way of living.Rohr describes the meaning of mysticism.He suggests contemplation is reasonablebut not rational - a different way of knowing.It is an integrative, rather than an exclusivistway of understanding reality. It does notfocus on right vs. wrong, positive vs. negativeor male vs. female like so much of our inheritedreligion.Franciscan spirituality as interpreted by Rohr, engages some important contemporary themes -like atonement theory, eco-spirituality, theChrist who existed before Christianity and the Christ who will live beyond it, an approach toIslam, and living like Jesus lived.I continue to marvel at the way Rohr helpsus to see that there are within the Christiantradition many untapped resources thatwe did not know existed.I recommend this book. Whether you arenew to Richard Rohr or a veteran of othershe has written, this title continues thespiritual journey of a modern pilgrim - grounded in good tradition - who is not afraid to confront challenges to Christianitytoday, and very open to new ways the Spirit is guiding us.

--A Review Summary:Rohr's attempt is to deepen contemporaryspirituality by linking it to Christian mysticismand the contemplative tradition. In "Eager to Love" he reclaims the mysticisminherent in the Franciscan legacy and offers it as an alternative to the hierarchical,patriarchal and authoritarian Christianitythat he suggests has primary responsibilityfor so much contemporary agnosticism in theWest... He is building a bridge between theChristian mystical tradition and estrangedseekers of every ilk.The book contains Rohr's reflections on the best aspects of the Franciscan heritage aslived out by its founder and its early worthies -Clare, Bonaventure and Dun Scotus.The message of Francis offers an alternativeway of life, a different way of knowingand a pedagogy that teaches through livingrather than through creedal affirmation.According to Rohr, the starting point for Francis was not the reality of human sinfulness butrather human suffering. The Franciscan wayis prophetic rather than priestly.Rohr admits that he is not a scholar but apopularizer who is laying out a different approach to the inherited Christian tradition.His treatment, he acknowledges, is notsystematic.Rohr both values the institutional churchand suggests ways to survive within it. Headmonishes Christians give priority to Jesusand his message which we inherit throughScripture and theological tools offered through the church.Francis was not a theologian, but a livingillumination of one open to the love ofGod and eager to love God and all God's creation, especially the most lowly.The church of the future will be mystical,the author believes, and Rohr is attempting to drive that message home.- Dana Greene, National Catholic Reporter July 23rd, 2014***Buy the book from Amazon.ca:http://tinyurl.com/m9gbu7r

*****WISDOM OF THE WEEKProvided by Sojourners and the Bruderhof Online

In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart.- Mahatma Gandhi--

We must overturn so many idols, the idol of self first of all, so that we can be humble, and only from our humility can learn to be redeemers, can learn to work together in the way the world really needs. Liberation that raises a cry against others is no true liberation. Liberation that means revolutions of hate and violence and takes the lives of others or abases the dignity of others cannot be true liberty. True liberty does violence to self and, like Christ, who disregarded that he was sovereign, becomes a slave to serve others.

- Oscar Romero--

Try saying this silently to everyone and everything you see for thirty days: "I wish you happiness now and whatever will bring happiness to you in the future."If we said it to the sky, we would have to stop polluting; if we said it when we see ponds and lakes and streams, we would have to stop using them as garbage dumps and sewers; if we said it to small children, we would have to stop abusing them, even in the name of training; if we said it to people, we would have to stop stoking the fires of enmity around us. Beauty and humanwarmth would take root in us like a clear,hot June day. We would change.To love at all is to be vulnerable. The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell.

- Joan Chittister--Laughter is immeasurable. Be
joyful though you have considered all the
facts.- Wendell
Berry

--To love God is the only happy love, but on the other hand it is also something terrible.Face to face with God we are without standards and without comparisons; we cannot compare ourselves with God, for here we become nothing, and directly before God, in the presence of God, we dare not compare ourselves with others. Therefore In every person there is a prudent fear of having anything to do with God, because by becoming involved with God we become nothing.

- Søren Kierkegaard--

When we honestly ask ourselves whichpersons in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who care- Henri Nouwen--Do not waste time bothering whether you 'love' your neighbor; act as if you
did. As soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. When you are
behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love [that
person].

- C.S.
Lewis*****CLOSING THOUGHT - Madeleine L’EngleSometimes the very walls of our churches separate us from God and each other. In our various naves and sanctuaries we are safely separated from those outside, from other denominations, other religions, separated from the poor, the ugly, the dying.…The house of God is not a safe place. It is a cross where time and eternity meet, and where we are – or should be – challenged to live more vulnerably, more interdependently.(end)*****